WEEKEND TRAVELS - Kansas History

Unlike a lot of people I've talked to, I really enjoy driving across Kansas. There is so much history there and a lot of the rural topography hasn't changed from the days of the Youngers and James gangs rode the hills. 

One of my brothers in law lives in the north central part of OK about 15 miles from the KS/ OK line. So the shortest route there is to cut north out of Joplin MO then west through the southern part of KS, including historic Baxter Springs and Coffeyville.

The pictures below were taken about 45 miles east of Arkansas City if I'm not mistaken. My husband is great about stopping so I can take pictures.

I dubbed this first one a Saloon. Looks like it may have been a store front a hundred years ago. When I'm going through on my own, I hope to do some history research. I love the decorative wood work and painting.

This next one has to date back quite aways as well. Notice the arched windows and the bunting. 

In the next picture I've zoomed in on the west entrance. Notice the arch beneath the porch. and what appears to be a trio of garage doors. The entrance is mirrored on the east end as you see in the above picture.

Architecture and old buildings fascinate me. If those walls could talk, the stories they'd tell.

Do you have any buildings that speak to you? If you can, link me up to where I can see pictures. I'd love to explore.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS - Wolf Hunter Solutions

Today I want to showcase an awesome business Bob and I found through local advertisement in Springfield MO... Wolf Hunter Solutions  Go ahead, follow the link. I'll be here when you are done.

While Bob focused on the AR stuff - of which they have one of the largest selections of AR components I have seen anywhere - I wandered the tactical side of the store. They don't focus on just 'prepper'... but all things tactical for personal and law enforcement use. Josh was kind enough to let me take pictures so I'm going to post those and let you do a virtual wander through that side of the store.

Personal Hygiene kits 

Firestarters and supplies

Medical Kits

Field Medic Packs

Micro fiber towels (very compact)

Supply kiosk

waterless body wipes

Variety of water bags

One of the camel bags up close

Trauma Kit varieties

Trauma Kit

Medic supply wall

Variety of  packs

If you're ever in Springfield MO, stop and check this place out. You can also order through there site but nothing beats seeing this place in person.

WEEKEND TRAVELS - Straw Bale Time!

While you might not think this most exciting travel photo, I'm ecstatic. Straw in southeast MO is hard to come by. We can usually get straw in the fall at the feed stores and box stores like Walmart but fall straw doesn't do a lot of good for those of us doing strawbale gardening - in the spring.

To make matters worse, the box stores want $6+ a bale. 

I've been blessed to find a local supplier. He has 40 acres that he plants in wheat, primarily for the straw. And he only charges $4 a bale!

So today I went out to his place and brought home 12 bales. With this cold, unloading was a chore and pretty much taxed my energy for the dale. Combined with the ones I bought at WM last fall and stored in the green house, this brings me to 20 bales -or there abouts. I'm going to spend some time this week figuring out the whole garden thing. If I have to make another trip out later in the week I might pick up 6 or so more... just in case. 

I also found a Straw Bale app. It's the official one from Joel Karsten. I downloaded the app today but it isn't wanting to open. I've deleted the app and will try a new download.

Next week I'll be showing pictures from a weekend travel to OK. I know it's not the Ozarks but I found some interesting buildings to share with you.

I know I've been absent. Bob was home for two months. He just went back out on Wednesday. I'm battling a horrid cold for the second time and the recliner is my best friend.

Have some Prepper stuff coming up as well as garden talk and sites from the Ozarks. I hope you'll come back.